Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People

Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, c. 1822 – March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including family and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.

During the American Civil War, she served as an armed scout and spy for the United States Army. In her later years, Tubman was an activist in the struggle for women's suffrage.

Early Life

Born in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman experienced the brutality of slavery from an early age. She bore the physical scars of whippings and a traumatic head injury that caused lifelong seizures and visionary dreams.

The Underground Railroad

Between 1850 and 1860, Tubman made 13 trips to the South, guiding enslaved people to freedom. She famously "never lost a passenger" and carried a pistol both for protection and to discourage any who might lose courage.

Civil War Service

During the Civil War, Tubman became the first woman to lead an armed assault in the Civil War. The Combahee River Raid liberated more than 700 enslaved people.

Legacy

Tubman died on March 10, 1913, from pneumonia. She is buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, New York. Her life remains a testament to courage, faith, and unwavering commitment to freedom.